The Sheffield Design Awards were inaugurated in 2008 in partnership between Sheffield Civic Trust| and RIBA Yorkshire. They celebrate design excellence in architecture and the built environment within the Sheffield city boundary. Awards are given to projects that demonstrate high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment.

Submissions are judged by a panel of architects, designers and lay assessors. The jury will visit the buildings, talk to project clients and users and will assess design excellence irrespective of style, size and complexity of the project. Both awards and commendations are given.

The awards categories are:

Best Building Award - given to the project that the jury consider to be the best on the shortlist

Conservation Award - for adaptation and/or restoration of historic and/or significant buildings

Small Project Award - for projects and extensions with a contract value below £250,000

Residential Award - for one-off houses, extensions, apartment blocks and large-scale housing developments

Public Space Award - for successful spaces, streets and squares around buildings

Community Design Award - for community-based projects in one of Sheffield's neighbourhoods

Sustainability Award - for projects with a focus on carbon reduction in their design and construction methods

People's Choice Award - decided by online vote by those who live and work in Sheffield